Time Out says

5 out of 5 stars

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Users say

Time Out says

5 out of 5 stars

A Chinese tea room serving eye-popping desserts in the 9th.

Whether it’s the pillar box red and emerald green colour scheme, or the constant hum of satisfied customers, but there is something magnetic about Tang Xuan. Owner Pierre-Henri Boissavy was in the luxury watch industry before opening this Chinese tea room – and his attention to detail shows. Curved wooden chairs, blue china plates on the wall and hanging lanterns: it’s serene yet friendly, a lot like the service.

Teas like jasmine, longan and pu-erh (a fermented tea from the Yunnan province) are served from giant glass pots with teeny-tiny ceramic cups. Although the brews are delightful, it’s the desserts that really wow: choose from eight dairy-based or patisserie style treats using the picture menu. But really, you should take recommendations from the waiter. Or us. Because whatever you do, order the following: the cooling, creamy coconut panna cotta (€4.80), the matcha crepe millefeuille (€6.80) and the neige blanche (€6.80). The millefeuille is stack of airy, bright green pancakes, layered with cream and dusted with matcha powder. It’s nothing like the bitter, fishy-tasting products which give this green tea superfood a bad rep. Smooth, umami and not too sweet, we were quite distraught once the plate was licked clean.

Then the neige blanche: a milky ice, topped with chunks of fresh mango and a ball of black rice. If you’re not charmed by the mélange of textures, then you will be by its arrival in a bowl of dried ice. Weak-willed yes, but any dessert oozing with proper Harry Potter smoke gets our attention. The bottom layer of ice cream wasn’t as flavourful as the rest, but otherwise, it’s a winner. Three puddings sounds excessive but everything is lightweight and sugar is used sparingly to let the flavours shine. Go with a group to try as much as possible (there’s a couple of Durian-flavoured options for the more courageous) or order the selection stand of four minis (€18.80-20.80). Time slows down in this charming tea house, which is lucky because you'll need plenty of it to savour these unusual, loveable combinations.